My Traumatizing Years With Bryan Singer

By Blake Stuerman

In this first-person account, Blake Stuerman, 30, details his experiences over his four years with the filmmaker Bryan Singer, who came to prominence as a director with 1995’s “The Usual Suspects,” and directed several blockbusters, including “X-Men,” “Superman Returns,” and, most recently, 2018’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

Stuerman met Singer in 2009 in New York City when he was 18 years old, and entered into a sexual relationship with him shortly after; Singer was 43. Their time together ended after Stuerman was fired as Singer’s assistant in June 2013 on the film “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” which opened the following year. Stuerman believes his relationship with Singer was abusive and traumatic. He says he was further traumatized by witnessing an incident in 2012 in which Singer allegedly assaulted someone.

Variety corroborated parts of Stuerman’s account of his life with Singer through documents, photographs, emails and text messages provided by Stuerman, and by speaking with people in Stuerman’s and Singer’s orbits at the time of these events. In total, Variety interviewed 20 people for this story, 18 of whom spoke with Variety under an agreement of anonymity in order to protect their positions within the industry or out of concern of reprisals from Singer — as well as Stuerman’s parents. Stuerman’s allegation of assault was corroborated by someone who was present for it.

When given a detailed summary of what Stuerman wrote, Singer’s lawyer, Andrew Brettler, responded in a four-page letter in which he called Stuerman’s allegations “uncorroborated, inflammatory, and highly defamatory” and that Stuerman “simply has an axe to grind” against Singer. But Brettler did not dispute — nor did he comment on — the allegations that Singer had sex with Stuerman beginning when he was 18. He also did not dispute or comment on the claim that Singer assaulted someone and Stuerman witnessed it. Singer’s response is included at the end of the piece.

Singer has been the subject of controversy for much of his career, starting with allegations of misconduct involving minors on the set of the 1998 film "Apt Pupil," and exploding after being accused of raping a minor in a civil lawsuit in 2014 (that was later withdrawn). In 2019, Singer settled a lawsuit for $150,000 that claimed he’d raped a 17-year-old boy in 2003 (he denied the allegations). Singer has never been arrested or charged with a crime related to these allegations, and he has denied all allegations of sexual misconduct. His professional habits have also come under scrutiny, and in late 2017, he was fired from “Bohemian Rhapsody” after causing what the Hollywood Reporter called “chaos on set.” He hasn’t directed a movie since. —Adam B. Vary and Kate Aurthur

I turned 18 in March of 2009. Just days after my birthday, my life would change forever.

I was working in New York as an assistant scenic designer when I was introduced to Bryan Singer. Bryan had heard about me through Gary Goddard, a friend of his, who was producing two of the shows I was working on. I was stick thin, wildly precocious and looked no older than 15. The textbook definition of a twink.

The first night I met Bryan, I was invited to a late dinner at Nobu 57. Gary called, instructing me to meet him and his friends for dinner. Gary’s friends had come to town for the opening of his shows. He said their helicopter had just landed and they were en route. He followed up minutes later to make sure I was coming. I had to Google what Nobu 57 was.

After arriving at the restaurant, I was escorted to a large table of men. It was after 11 p.m. and the dining room was mostly empty. There was just one open seat next to Gary. Bryan eyed me from across the table while Gary quietly explained that Bryan was a famous movie director who had made “X-Men” and “Superman Returns.” I had never heard of him before, but those movies were obviously very familiar. I fumbled with my chopsticks as Bryan asked about the shows I was working on and what I wanted to do with my career. Each time a new platter of sashimi was served, Bryan’s assistant would tell me how expensive it was. I had to tell Gary that I couldn’t afford to split this. He shared that with the table and they all laughed. It was the first time I had ever been around true wealth.

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https://variety.com/2021/film/news/bryan-singer-blake-stuerman-1235136986/